Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-01-07
Further Details Of the Disaster-A Thoughtful
Victim.


Victim.
TIFFIN Dec. 4.-The ground was Gov
cred with snow where the collision oc-
CURED, one mile from town and nearly
half mile from any dwelling and at
O'Clock this morning. A relative of one
Bradley, prominent as Knight of Labor,
from Washington, while the flames were
bursting from the car windows which
had been broken in the crash of
the collision, by some means put out his
hand and threw his watch and pocket
book to those whom he could see on the
outside. He was penned on the inside
and was being roasted alive, but those
who saw him were unable to render him
the least relief. They could hear the
frenzied and horror stricken man as he
madly endeavored to burst the bar
rier that held him in his fiery
prison. The charred remains of
the express messenger consisted simply
of two thigh bones, which were found in
the debris of the car. The engineer and
fireman of the freight reversed their en-
gine and jumped for a snow bank. The
engineer of the express reversed his en-
gine and sprang to the left. The FIRE
man endeavored to get out to the right.
but being overcome with fright fell close
to his crushed engine and was badly
burned but not beyond recognition. His
body has been placed in neat cas-
ket and is now at the undertakers
at Republic awaiting the arrival
of his relatives. There has been steady
stream of citizens from all parts of the
county going to and returning from the
wreck. 1t is reported that Congressman
Seney, who has been at home for the past
few days on business, was on the wrecked
train, but such is not the case. The Judge
did not leave the city until this morning
and is safe and sound.
Heartrending Details Of the Awful Disaster.
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Jan. "A special to
the Leader from Tiffin gives the follow
ing account of the collision: One of the
most horrible and heartrending accidents
ever chronicled occurred near Republic,
about eight miles east of here, at two
O'CLOCK this morning. At one O'Clock the
east bound freight train, in charx. of
Conductor Fletcher, pulled on. of this
city, having received orders to side track
at the Scipio siding to allow the east
bound express to pass. After the passen-
ger train had gone the conductor, being
without special orders, exercised his own
Judgment and determined that inasmuch as
he had half an hour to make the switch
at Republic, little less than five miles
distant, before the arrival of the fast ex
press from the east, which was dse at
that point at two O'Clock, he pulled out
The night was bitter Geld and much diff
Guilty was experienced in keeping up
steam In the engine. Finally at point
half mile vest of Republic, the train
cane to stand still, being unable TO
move further. Just here was made
The HORRIBLE MISTAKE
which resulted in the loss of many lives
and the destruction of thousands of dol
lars worth of property. Althouga the
conductor must have known that be was
approaching dangerously near the time of
the express he did not send out sign ais
until after his train had come
to q standstill, and he found It impossible
to move further. He then started for
ward with a lantern himself. At this
point there ls sharp curve, and Con-
ductor Fletcher had not proceeded more
than the length OF twenty cars when he
saw the headlight of the approaching ex-
press rounding the scurve NOT forty
rods distant, and running at the lightning
speed Of sixty three miles Per hour. Hor-
ror stricken with the knowledge that
frightfd aeeidsnt could not be avoided,